Interieur van de Al-Aqsamoskee te Jeruzalem c. 1870 - 1875

Curator: I’m drawn to the quiet, almost reverent atmosphere captured in this albumen print, titled “Interieur van de Al-Aqsamoskee te Jeruzalem” – or, Interior of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. It’s believed to date from around 1870-1875 and comes to us from the hand, or rather the lens, of Horatio Herbert Kitchener. Editor: My immediate impression is the overwhelming feeling of space. The way the photograph is composed, looking up at that vaulted ceiling… it’s as though the architecture itself is whispering stories. It almost feels staged though—did they empty the Mosque of its usual activity for this shot? Curator: Possibly. I think what fascinates me is the dance between the grandeur of the architecture and the muted tones of the photograph. The way the light falls—it hints at so much more than it reveals, like a secret language embedded in stone. Editor: Absolutely. Thinking about the historical context, it is worth mentioning that Kitchener's perspective would have been of someone embedded within the power structures of the British Empire. How might that lens impact the stories that he chose to tell—or not tell—with this photograph of a sacred site? What narratives were centered and conversely, which ones were actively obscured? Curator: That’s a compelling question. It’s a good reminder that even seemingly objective documentation can carry biases. For me though, what also stands out are the intricate geometric patterns. There’s a serenity in that repetition. A deep understanding of balance and harmony which feels incredibly moving. Editor: I wonder about accessibility as well, though. Who was this photograph intended for? Was it meant to provide an intimate look at the Islamic faith, or merely exoticize a different culture? We can never truly remove the art from its entanglements. Curator: You've given me a lot to mull over, certainly the photograph serves to create an ongoing dialogue. The way we look at the world shapes our very understanding of it. Editor: And how we remember to re-see our previous outlooks, that's the task ahead for sure.